I have an asset allocation that I think/hope/pray will be sufficient to protect us from another meltdown. I do believe another will happen at some point, but I don't think anyone really knows when it might happen. We've had several major mega downturns in the past 13 years, so having another isn't far fetched. Keeping a few years of living expenses in excess of SS in cash isn't a bad idea, at least in my opinion. Good luck to us all.